Drop hand syndrome

Drop hand syndrome is also known as wrist drop or finger drop, a condition caused by paralysis of or damage to the radial nerve of the arm. The radial nerve supplies the muscles that extend the wrist and fingers. The end result is that the hand hangs flaccidly in a position of flexion during attempts to bring the arm to a horizontal position. Causes of drop hand or wrist drop can include trauma, external compression, or systemic nutritional deficiencies. Persistent compression from the use of crutches is one possible cause of damage to the radial nerve that results in wrist drop.